Tray support for electric blasting initiator wires



Aug. 21, 1956 D. D. HLJYET 1 2,759,251

TRAY SUPPORT RoR ELECTRIC BLASTING INITIATOR WIRES Filed Oct. 5l, 1951 4Sheetsheet D. D. 'HUYETT Aug. 21, 1956 TRAY SUPPORT FOR ELECTRICBLASTING INITIATOR WIRES Filed 0G13. 3l 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hnden/L D.D. HUYETT Aug. 21, 1956 TRAY SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC BLASTING INITIATORWIRES Filed OCT.. 3l 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 s @wmf/QM D. D. HUYETT Aug.21, 1956 TRAY SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC BLASTING INITIATOR WIRES Filed OOr..31, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Unitedl States Patent Oice TRAY SUPPORT FORELECTRIC BLASTING INITIATOR WIRES Daniel D. Huyett, Wilmington, Del.,assigner to Atlas Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware Application October 31, 1951, Serial No. 254,178

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-286) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in trays or jigs for supporting a plurality of wires inpredetermined iixed relationship relative to one another. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in trays lor jigs to support a plurality of wires in apredetermined position to receive component parts of electric blastinginitiators.

In the manufacture of electric blasting initiators, or the like, a pairof electric Wires are inserted througih a resilient plug. An electricigniter, is then secured to the ends of the wires, and the Wires, plugand electric match assembly lare inserted into the open end of a chargedor loaded detonator shell. In order to produce articles such as electricblasting initiators on a produc- -tion line basis, means must beprovided to support a plurality of wires in a fixed relationship throughthe various stages of the production line.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the presentinvention is to provide novel apparatus to support a plurality of Iwiresin a predetermined fixed relationship with respect to each other.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel wiretray or jig of the stated character which is especially adapted for usewith the various machines employed in the manufacture of electricblasting initiators or the like.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novelwire tray or jig having the features and characteristics set forth whichprovides an eicient and effective means for supporting and transferringa plurality of wires and their associated parts throughout the entiremanufacturing process.

These and other objects of the present invention and the variousfeatures and details of the construction and operation thereof arehereinafter more fully set forth .and described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a wire tray or jig made in accordance with thepresent invention having a plurality of spools of Wires thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view partially in section of the wire trayillustrated in Fig. l;

Figs. 3a and 3b are enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewstaken on line 3 3, Fig. 1, of the forward and rear ends, respectively,of the wire tray;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the forward end of thewire tray;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged face View of the wire tray illus'trating the meansto maintain the wires in their proper spaced relationship;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken online 6 6, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7- is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7 7, Fig. 6,illustrating the latch means for applying pressure to the wires;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view partially in sectionof the wire tray illustrated in Fig. l; and,

2,759,251 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transversesectional view taken on line 9 9, Fig. 8.

Referring more specifically to the dra-wings, a wire tray or jig made inaccordance with the present invention comprises an open frame designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 10. The frame 10 consists of acentral rear member 11 and a pair of forwardly extending legs 12 and 13.Extending across the lower open surface of the frame 10 is a base member14 formed, for example, of sheet metal and having upwardly extendingside and rear portions thereon, which are secured to the frame 10, forexample, by means of welding or the like. The base member 14 is adaptedto support a plurality of spools or bundles of wire. In the presentinstance, a plurality of dowel pins 15 are fastened to 'the base member1'4, which, in turn, are adapted to receive spools 16. Each of thespools 16 has a pair of Wires 16a wound thereon which are maintained intheir desired position by the wire tray of the present invention. Ininstances where it is desired to support a plurality of bundles ofwires, not shown, the dowel pins 15 may be removed from the base member14 and the bundles of wires laid in position on the base member 1'4.Extending transversely of the wire tray and positioned directly beneaththe base member 14 are forward and rear skids 1'7 and 18, respectively,which serve to maintain the w-ire tray in position on the feed table ofany of the machines in the production line, for example, as more fullydescribed in my cio-pending appli-cation, Serial Number 249,298, ledOctober 2, lll.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided at theforward end of the frame 10 t-o maintain the wires 16a in the desiredposition with respect to each other and the tray.

To this end, lower and upper strips 21 and 22, respectively, ofresilient friction material, for example soft rubber, are adapted to bepositioned below and above the wires 16a and maintained under pressurein abutting relationship in order to securely grip the wires. The lowerstrip of friction material 2-1 is carried by a cross frame member 23secured to the forward skid 17 immediately above the base member 14 asindicated in Figs. 3a and 6. The upper strip of resilient frictionmaterial 22 is carried by an upper cross frame member 24, which in turnis mounted on a spring clamp 25. The spring clamp 25 is pivotallymounted to the members 12 and 113 of the frame 10 as indicated at 26 andis operable to maintain the upper strip of resilient friction material22 in pressure applying relationship with the wires 16a and the lowerstrip of resilient friction material 21. The upper cross frame member 24is maintained in a spaced parallel relationship with the clamp 25 bymeans of a pair of spacers 27 as indicated in Figs. 3a, 6 and 8.

Prior to positioning the wires 16a on the wire tray or jig, the springclamp 25 is raised to permit the ends of the wires to be positionedintermediate of the upper and lower strips of resilient frictionmaterial. After the wires 16a are properly positioned, the clamp 25 islowered placing the upper and lower strips of resilient frictionmaterial in engagement with the wires 16a. Pressure is applied manuallyto the edges of the spring clamp 25 to distort the clamp 25 downwardlyabout the spacers 27, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8. The clamp 25 ismaintained in this position by means of a pair of latches 28 and 29which are pivotally mounted adjacent inner edges of the legs 12 and 13,respectively, of the frame 10 and engage the spring clamp 25. By thisconstruction, the upper and lower strips of resilient friction materialare maintained in pressure applying relationship with each other and thewires to prevent* relative dis- 3 placement of the wires with respect toeach other and to the wire tray.

With reference to Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the latches 28 and 29 are pivotallymounted to pairs of upwardly extending lugs 32 and 33, respectively,formed as integral parts of the forward skid 17. A pair of coil springs34 are adapted to be received in recesses 35 and 36 in the latches andskid, respectively, to resiliently maintain the latches in theirvertical position. When the spring clamp 25 is lowered, the forward edgethereof engages a cam surface 37 on top of each of the latches andpivots the saine in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to Fig.7. Further lowering of the spring clamp 25 will permit the springs 34 toreturn the latches to their vertical positioning in interlockingengagement with the spring clamp.

Adjacent the forward edge of the upper and lower strips of resilientfriction material is a plurality of spring clips 38 which extendtransversely of the wire` tray. The clips 38 are secured in side-by-siderelationship to the forward skid 17, for example, as indicated at 39 andcomprises a central portion 41 having upwardly extending arms 42 atrelatively opposite sides thereof. The extreme end portions of the arms42 are bent inwardly towards each other as illustrated in Fig. 6 topermit the wires to be easily positioned between the arms 42 of adjacentclips. Positioned in front of the clips 38 and secured to the forwardedge of the skid 17 is a guide plate 43 which extends upwardly toapproximately the mid-point of the clips 38. A pair of wires arepositioned in superimposed relationship between each pair of clips andextend forward from the clips above the guide plate 43. By thisconstruction, the wires are held stationary by the strips of resilientfriction material and maintained in their desired spaced relationshipwith respect to each other and to the wire tray by means of the clipsand guide plate.

The pairs of wires extend forward from the clips 3S and terminate in adisplaceable guide, designated generally as 44, which maintains the endsof the wires in the desired spaced relationship. The displaceable guide44 comprises a central body portion 45 extending transversely of thewire tray and a pair of integral rearwardly extending arms 46 and 47positioned immediately adjacent the interior edges of the legs 12 and13, respectively, of the frame 10. Upper and lower cover plates 4S and49, respectively, secured to the forward end of each of the legs of theframe engage the arms 46 and 47 and prevent relative vertical movementof the displaceable guide with respect to the frame. Stops 51 and 52 aresecured to the arms 46 and 47, for example, as indicated at 53, 53 inFig. 4 to limit relative longitudinal movement of the displaceable guidewith respect to the frame. The stops S1 and 52 extend rearwardly of thewire tray and terminate in downwardly projecting lugs 54 and 55 whichextend through slots 56 and 57 in the base member 14.

In accordance with the present invention, the displaceable guide 44 ismounted for relative longitudinal movement with respect to the wire traybetween predetermined limit positions to permit the ends of the wires tobe projected beyond the forward end of the guide. ln the forward limitposition of the displaceable guide 44, the lugs 54 and 55 on the stops51 and 52 engage the rear surface of the rear skid 18, as illustrated inFig. 2, and prevent further forward movement of the displaceable guide.The rearward limit position of the displaceable guide may be determined,for example, either by the length of the slots 56 and 57 or by theforward edge of the guide plate 43. The displaceable guide is normallyurged to its forward limit position by means of a pair of coil springs58, S8 which have their forward ends fastened to the frame of the Wiretray, for example, as shown in Fig. 6 and their rear ends secured tolugs 59, S9 projecting outwardly from the rear end portions of the stops51 and 52. By this construction, the guide is normally maintained in itsforward limit position and may be easily 4 ydisplaced rearwardly againstthe tension of the coil springs by exerting a slight pressure on theforward face thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the displaceable guidemaintains the forward ends of the pairs of wires in their desired spacedrelationship. To this end, a plurality of grooves 62 are providedtransversely of the upper surface of the central body portion of thedisplaceable guide in which the lower wire of each pair of wires isadapted to be placed. A dividing plate 63 and a locking plate 64 is thenplaced on top of the lower sets of wires. The locking plate 64 has aplurality of grooves 65 in its lower surface in which the upper wire ofeach pair is adapted to be placed. Recesses 66 are provided in the rearsurface of the locking plate 64 adjacent each of the grooves 65 topermit the wires to be easily inserted into the grooves 65. By thisconstruction, the wires are maintained in a spaced superimposedrelationship with respect to each other and may be readily removed fromthe wire tray after an article has been placed on the ends of the Wires.

The dividing plate 63 and locking plate 64 are maintained in properposition with respect to the central body portion of the displaceableguide by a plurality of dowel pins 6? which extend upwardly throughopenings 66 and 69, respectively, in the dividing plate and lockingplate. Means are also provided to prevent relative vertical displacementof the locking plate and dividing plate with respect to the dowel pins.To this end, a pair of latch pins 71, 71 are provided in the centralbody member of the displaceable guide at relatively opposite sides ofthe locking plate. The latch pins are slidably mounted in the bodyportion of the displaceable guide and resiliently urged into engagementwith the locking plate 64 by means of springs 73, 73. An operating lever74 secured to each of the latch pins 71 and extending through slots 75,7S in the body portion of the displaceable guide permits the latch pinsto be withdrawn from the locking plate, thereby permitting removal ofthe locking plate and dividing plate from the dowel pins 67.

When the wire tray or jig of the present invention is used inconjunction with a production line for the manufacture of electricblasting initiators or the like, it may be necessary to secure variousfixtures to the forward end of the displaceable guide 44. These fixturesare a match holder, which is the subject of a co-pending application,Serial Number 259,933 filed December 5, 1951, now Patent No. 2,693,634,issued November 9, 1954, a match sulphuring fixture, a shell barricadeand a shell support. ln the present instance, a shell support 77 isillustrated in position at the forward end of the wire jig. rl'hc shellsupport 77 has a plurality of opcnin gs 78 therethrough in which theshells may be supported and is adapted to be clamped in position on thewire jig adjacent the forward edge of the displaceable guide. l he shellsupport 77 is maintained in position between the upper and lower guideplates 43 and 49 by a pair of latches 81, 31, secured to the extremeforward ends of the legs 1 2 and 13 of the frame 10. The latches 8l., 81extend through openings 32, 32 in the forward end of the legs i2 and 13and are resiliently urged toward the center of the wire tray by leafsprings 83, 33 which have their forward ends secured to the latches 81,31 and their rearward ends secured to the frame legs 12' and 13. Thefoiward edge of each of the latches 81, 81 is beveled as indicated at84, to permit the latches to be displaced rearwardly when the shellsupport is being positioned on the Wire tray. After the shell support isin its proper position, the springs 83, $3 force the latches S1, 81 intoengagement with the forward edge of the shell support to maintain thesame in position.

An example of the use of the wire tray or jig of the present inventionis clearly illustrated in the aforementioned co-pending application,Serial Number 286,958, filed May 9, 1952. In this instance, the wires16a are positioned flush with the forward edge of the displaceable guide44 and the wire tray or jig is placed on the feed table of a machine forinserting the wires into resilient plugs. The wire tray supports thepairs of wires in axial alignment with a plurality of funnel shapedopenings, behind which are a corresponding plurality of pierced plugs.As the feed table of the wire insertion machine is actuated in theforward direction, the wire tray is advanced until the forward edge ofthe displaceable guide 44 engages the rear surface of the funnel plate.Further forward movement of the feed table of the wire insertion machineadvances the wire tray and wires until the wires are inserted into theplugs. At the same time, the displaceable guide 44 is maintainedstationary by the funnel plate, thereby permitting the wires to beextended out- Wardly from the forward edge of the displaceable guide.After the plugs are secured to the wires the feed table of the wireinsertion machine is retracted and the springs 58, S8 resiliently urgethe displaceable guide forward with respect to the wire tray against therear surface of the plugs which are secured to the wires. In manyinstances, the force of the springs 58, 58 which resiliently urge thedisplaceable guide forward is sufficient to overcome the frictional gripof the plugs on the wires and thereby force the plugs toward the forwardend of the wires. To prevent this, a pair of spring clips 85, 85 aresecured to the inner surfaces of the rearwardly extending portions 51and 52 of the displaceable guide, as illustrated in Figs. l and 8. Thesespring clips 85, 85 have their free forward end biased inwardly towardthe central portion of the tray and are operable to engage the rearsurface of the upwardly extending lugs 32 and 33 to prevent furtherforward movement of the displaceable guide. On the other hand, if it isdesired to move the displaceable guide forward with respect to the trayportion 14, the spring clips may be manually pressed against the innersurfaces of the rearwardly extending leg portions 51 and 52, therebydisengaging the clips 85, 85 from the lugs 32 and 33. By thisconstruction, it will be noted that the displaceable guide is notpermitted to exert any pressure upon the rear surfaces of the plugswhich may be secured to the wires.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the present inventionprovides a novel tray or jig which is operable to support a plurality ofwires in a predetermined fixed relationship with respect to each other.In addition, tlc: present invention provides a novel wire tray whichwill support a plurality of wires in a predetermined fixed relationshipto receive component parts of electric blasting initiators, and providean efficient and effective means for transferring the wires and theirassociated parts throughout the entire manufacturing process.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit theinvention to such a disclosure and changes and modifications may beincorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the followingclaims:

I claim:

1. In a wire tray or jig adapted to `support a plurality of pairs ofwires in a predetermined fixed relationship, a frame having forwardlyextending leg portions thereon, a base member secured to said frame onwhich the wires are placed, upper and lower strips of resilient frictionmaterial mounted at the forward edge of said base member between whichsaid Wires are passed, a spring clamp mounting one of said strips ofresilient friction material operable to maintain the same in pressureapplying relationship with the wires and said other strip of resilientfriction material, a displaceable guide carried by said frame legportions slidably mounted for movement toward and away from said clampbetween predetermined limit positions, means defining a first set ofopenings through said displaceable guide in which the lower wire of eachpair of wires is adapted to be placed, a spacer plate positioned abovesaid lower set of wires, means defining a second set of openings throughsaid displaceable guide immediately adjacent the upper surface of saidspacer plate in which the upper wire of each pair of wires is adapted tobe placed, a locking plate operable to be positioned above said upperset of wires, and latch means to secure said locking plate and saidspacer plate in position.

2. In a wire tray or jig adapted to support a plurality of pairs ofwires in a predetermined fixed relationship, a frame havingforwardlyextending leg portions thereon, a base member secured to said frame onwhich the wires are placed, upper and lower strips of resilient frictionmaterial mounted at the forward edge of said base member between whichsaid wires are passed, a spring clamp mounting one of said strips ofresilient friction material operable to maintain the same in pressureapplying relationship with the wires and said other strip of resilientfriction material, means including a plurality of clips mountedforwardly adjacent said upper and lower strips of resilient frictionmaterial to support the wires which extend between said strips ofresilient friction material in predetermined relation, a displaceableguide carried by said frame leg portions slidably mounted for movementtoward and away from said clips between predetermined limit positions,means defining a first set of openings through said displaceable guidein which the lower wire of each pair of wires is adapted to be placed, aspacer plate positioned above said lower set of wires, means defining asecond set of openings through said displaceable guide immediatelyadjacent the upper Surface of said spacer plate in which the upper wireof each pair of wires is adapted to be placed, a locking plate operableto be positioned above said upper set of wires, and latch means tosecure said locking plate and said spacer plate in position.

3. In a wire tray or jig adapted to support a plurality of pairs ofwires in a predetermined fixed relationship, a frame having forwardlyextending leg portions thereon, a base member secured to said frame onwhich the wires are placed, means associated with said base member tosupport said wires, upper and lower strips of resilient frictionmaterial mounted at the forward edge of said base member between whichsaid wires are passed, a spring clamp mounting one of said strips ofresilient friction material operable to maintain the same in pressureapplying relationship with the wires and said other strip of resilientfriction material, latch mechanism operable to engage said spring clampand secure the same in position, means including a plurality of clipsmounted forwardly adjacent said upper and lower strips of resilientfriction material to support the wires which extend between said stripsof resilient friction material in predetermined relation, a displaceableguide slidably mounted within said frame leg portions for movementtoward and away from said clips between predetermined limit positions,means defining a first set of openings through said displaceable guidein which the lower wire of each pair of wires is adapted to be placed, aspacer plate positioned above said lower set of wires, means defining asecond set of openings through said displaceable guide immediatelyadjacent the upper surface of said spacer plate in which the upper wireof each pair of wires is adapted to be placed, a locking plate operableto be positioned above said upper set of wires, and latch means tosecure said locking plate and said spacer plate in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,306,337 Hayden June 10, 1919 1,660,329 Fleming Feb. 28, 1928 1,732,081Clement Oct. 15, 1929 2,465,390 Mueller et al. Mar. 29, 1949

